Vobile Acquires Blayze

Century City YouTube analytics company Blayze Inc. has been acquired by Santa Clara’s Vobile, a provider of video identification services to help with content rights management.

Ben Smith, co-founder of Blayze, said the company lives on as the Los Angeles office of Vobile and that he would serve as senior vice president of business development. Co-founder Bennett Neale will also join Vobile. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition helps the Santa Clara company expand its copyright infringement detection services to YouTube. Vobile also gains some experience in dealing with YouTube networks by bringing Smith, one of YouTube’s first employees in Los Angeles, on board. The company will also have access to Blayze’s analytics technology.

“Vobile works with studio networks to help find infringing content and take it down. Where they don’t do it yet is YouTube,” Smith said. “I think that from a talent perspective, Bennett and I can speak credibly for Vobile in the ecosystem.”

Smith said he will be responsible for more than just giving Vobile a credible YouTube presence. He has been tasked with further developing Vobile’s Los Angeles footprint.

His goals include moving its office from a temporary space in Century City to a space in Santa Monica. He’s also looking to hire about 10 to 15 full-time employees.